Fully Booked: The Hidden Gems Author Podcast

Fully Booked EP64: What are Sensitivity Readers, and do you need one?

In recent weeks, controversy has erupted as publishers have been taking a red pen to the works of Roald Dahl, Ian Fleming, Ursula K. LeGuin, and others, editing their work to make them more palatable for our more sensitive times. While the debate about censorship rages on, the reality is that handling characters and cultures that you are unfamiliar with can be tricky, and that's where sensitivity readers come in.
This week, Craig and Roland sit down with Patrice Williams Marks, one of the world's leading sensitivity readers. Patrice is the go-to person for many authors and companies seeking to add authenticity and avoid harmful stereotypes in their writing. Don't miss all of the valuable insight Patrice brings as she explains how sensitivity readers can help authors navigate complex issues and create more inclusive stories. When it comes to bringing diversity into your work, Patrice's expertise is invaluable to writers at all stages of their careers.
 
Patrice Williams Marks
https://SensitivityReviews.com
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP63: The Bestseller Blueprint: Essential Steps for Publishing Success

Aspiring authors dream of writing a bestseller, but crafting a great book is just the beginning of a long journey to publishing success. Self-publishing requires not only talent and dedication, but also knowledge of the steps that take a book from idea to bestseller.
Amazon Bestselling author and podcaster Katelyn Silva understands these steps, having spent the last few years developing a repeatable system to take a book from idea, through publishing, and onto bestseller status. In today's episode, Katelyn sits down with Fully Booked to go over her process, covering everything from the essential foundations of story planning to the intricacies of launch plans and strategies.
While there is no single guaranteed path to success for any author or book, unless you understand all of the key steps along the way, you're much more likely to diverge into obscurity than find your way to the top of the charts.
 
Katelyn Silva
https://club.wewritebooks.com/
 
Hidden Gems
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Fully Booked EP62: Using Goodreads to Connect with Readers and Increase Book Sales

In today's episode, we're excited to have returning guest, Inkers Con co-founder, and New York Times bestselling author Alessandra Torre share her expertise on Goodreads – the often-overlooked social media platform built specifically for books. While most authors may not see Goodreads as a key player like Twitter or Facebook, it's actually the best place for authors to connect with readers. With no other distractions or reasons to spend time there, Goodreads provides a unique space for authors to connect with their audience. 
 
As Alessandra explains, the Goodreads platform can connect authors to both existing fans and new readers by allowing people to follow you, get notifications about activity related to your books, and even get emails announcing your new releases. All of this is free, although Alessandra also goes over some of the paid options and their worth, such as hosting giveaways. 
 
But regardless of how you decide to use it, the Goodreads algorithm doesn't limit your reach based on how much you spend, which is yet another advantage it has over the other social sites. The best part is, all of this can be achieved through less than an hour a month spent on the site, which means there really is no excuse for continuing to overlook this valuable social media platform. If you do, you're missing out on a powerful tool that could help you reach and stay connected to a wider audience of fans. 
Alessandra Torre
https://www.alessandratorre.com/
 
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links: 
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Fully Booked EP61: Book Launch on a Budget: Low/No-Cost Tips and Resources

For self-published authors, marketing and advertising expenses can be overwhelming, but not all book promotion options have to blow your budget. In this episode of Fully Booked, USA Today bestselling author Kyoko M shares her knowledge on the various ways of launching your book without spending a fortune.
Over the years of launching her own books, Kyoko has tried a variety of techniques and learned not only which ones work and which don't, but also whether they're budget friendly or will break the bank. Today she is sharing this knowledge on how to generate exposure for your work through promotional methods like blog tours, cover reveals, Goodreads giveaways, book trailers, guest posting, and a lot more.
Once you know what your options are, it's simply a matter of trying them out to determine which ones are most effective for you. Once you have that figured out, you can focus on the ones that work, bringing you to higher levels of success with each new release.
 
Kyoko M
https://shewhowritesmonsters.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
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All episode details and links:
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Fully Booked EP60: The Backlist Advantage: How to Make Money from Older Books

Authors tend to focus most of their marketing efforts on their newest releases, but just because a book is on your backlist doesn't mean it's lost any value. It may be older, but it's still brand new to millions of potential readers that have yet to discover it, and so it should be put to work for you just as hard as your latest novel.
That's exactly what USA Today bestselling author Golden Angel joins Fully Booked to discuss in today's episode. Golden Angel has been effectively promoting her older titles for years, and she's full of all sorts of tips and advice on how to keep your own backlist fresh and make sure those books continue to generate sales and find new fans.
From leveraging social media, tracking readthrough, rebranding and even book clubs, there are plenty of ideas here that can be used on older books that cost little or no money. So it's time to stop ignoring the words you wrote in the past, and optimize your marketing to monetize your entire catalog.
 
Golden Angel
https://www.goldenangelromance.com/
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
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All episode details and links:
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Fully Booked EP59: The Endlessly Patient Co-Writer: Using AI for Faster, Better Writing

When ChatGPT emerged, the world was introduced to AI beyond anything we'd seen before. However, despite its potential to disrupt and revolutionize our lives, many still fail to realize the benefits it can bring.
While the media often focuses on the ominous uses of AI for cheating or replacing human writers completely, the reality is that this technology is far more suited at improving or enhancing the writing experience. In this episode, Craig and Roland speak with Nathan Cole, an author and teacher who has been at the forefront of writing technology for years. Nathan breaks down how GPT AI works and shares his insights on the best writing services and techniques he's discovered so far.
These tools not only make writing novels faster and easier, but they can also assist with brainstorming and plotting. The key is learning how to craft the right prompts to achieve the desired results, and Nathan offers specific examples on how to do so. This episode is essential for writers to understand because GPT-based writing tools are here to stay. AI technology is going to advance very quickly, and authors who fail to get on board soon are in danger of being left behind completely.
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
 
All episode details and links:
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast

Fully Booked EP58: Calculated Risks: Navigating Risk Tolerance for Self-Published Authors

When it comes to writing and self-publishing, most authors are probably not very preoccupied with the idea of risk, or how it pertains to them. The fact is, though, that being a self-published author is essentially a business, and it's important that it be treated as such. That's why the concepts such as risk tolerance and risk capacity are so important, even if many of us don't even know what they mean!
Fortunately, today's guest, author and accountant D.F. Hart, is here to give us a deep dive on the concepts, and how they can impact your writing business. As she explains (with some great examples) most of your key writing and publishing decisions should be looked at from a risk tolerance and capacity perspective. In doing so, you'll find it much easier to make smart and informed decisions that maximize your profits and help you achieve your goals.
 
D.F. Hart
https://www.amazon.com/stores/D.F.-Hart/author/B004VBG4I6
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
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All episode details and links:
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Fully Booked EP57: Exploring the Craft of Multi-Genre Fiction Writing

In this episode of Fully Booked, Craig and Roland sit down with Gothic Suspense author London Clarke to talk about the world of multi-genre fiction writing. Clarke, who has made a name for herself by seamlessly blending elements of horror, romance, and suspense in her work, shares her insights on the challenges and opportunities that come with this unique approach to storytelling. She discusses how she manages to keep the different genres cohesive and how she balances the demands of each one in her writing.
London also talks about the upsides and downsides of this approach, and how she built a following and connected with readers by remaining true to her storytelling vision. The conversation takes a deep dive into the creative process and the inspirations behind Clarke's work, as well as the hurdles she has faced along the way and how she overcame them.
 
London Clarkehttps://www.londonclarke.com/
 
Hidden GemsNeed our help publishing or marketing your book? https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links: https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast
 

Fully Booked EP56: The Power of Perspective: Exploring First vs Third Person Writing

In this week's episode, Craig and Roland dive into the world of narrative perspective and explore the differences between first and third person writing. Joined by a very special guest, YA fiction author Courtney Brandt, the Fully Booked team examines the impact of point of view on the reader's experience and how it shapes the way a story is told.
From the intimacy of first person to the omniscience of third person, Courtney guides the discussion through the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective and how authors can use each of them to enhance their writing.
 
Courtney Brandt
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002BLOXRM
 
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book?
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All episode details and links:
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Fully Booked EP55: Pantser vs Plotter Throwdown!

For authors, there are typically two schools of thought around writing a novel. Plotters are authors who prefer to carefully plan out every aspect of the story before putting pen to paper. Pantsers, on the other hand, prefer to let the story unfold organically as they write. The two approaches are essentially opposite ends of a spectrum, and while there are probably times when most authors are a little bit of both, there are many who identify very strongly as being on one side or the other.
But which side is right for you? That’s the question we attempt to answer in our Pantster vs Plotter Throwdown!
On the Pantser side, we have Danielle Stewart, a USA Today bestselling author who has written over 50 books without having plotted a single scene. On the plotter side, author Bethany Maines is almost as prolific, but uses butcher paper and spreadsheets to detail out her award-winning novels. Watch as the two authors verbally duke it out until one side cries mercy and changes their writing style forever… Just kidding, of course! 
The fact is, there is no right or wrong in this debate - just two different styles that fit two different types of writing personality. So, if you haven’t yet settled on which approach works best for you, Danielle and Bethany lay out all the arguments to help you figure it out.
 
Danielle Stewart
https://authordaniellestewart.com/
 
Bethany Maines
https://bethanymaines.com/
Hidden Gems
Need our help publishing or marketing your book? 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/author-services/
All episode details and links: 
https://www.hiddengemsbooks.com/podcast